Gas burner with internal fuel distributors and variable flame area



' J. A. HARRISON 2,560,862 GAS vBURNER WITH INTERNAL FUEL DISTRIBUTERSAND July 17, 1951 VARIABLE FLAME AREA Filed Fab.l 16, 1946 LEM@ PatentedJuly 17, 1951 UNITED STATES -ATsNT oFF-ics GAS 'BURNER WITH INTERNALFUEL DIS- TRIBUTORS AND VARIABLE FLAME AREA J ames. A. Harrison,Southield Township, Oakland- County, Mich.

16 Claims.

This; invention relates: to. heating. devices and more particularlytoagas burner-ofi variable op.- eratingcapacity.v

An, important object of this invention ,is to; pro,- vide, ay novel gas;burner structure: .adapted for domestic and industrial uses which.automatically varies the name; jet; area, in proportion to the volume ofgas delivered. Anotherohjecto` this `iilVi-Drrltion isi-,o provide animproved; gas: burner which in operation; projectsy a multiplicity ofamejetsiorheating purposes; and which isself'- operable, to vary thenumber ofame jetsV and the area ofi name: iet propagation proportionately tothe. quantity of; gassuppliedto theburner. A further Object. f;this; invention; iS to provide a gas. burner. capable of suchopera-tionv which is constructed of fevv'parts economical,tofmanufaoturc andeasytoassembletogether.,

A` meritorious feature of the: invention is that in; operation` theburner is; selffoperable; toy vary the number and area from which thename jets issue by, thesimpleact of controllingthe gasdelivery valve..Novelprovision is madein theburner for regulating the flow of the; gasmixture therein so that when a smallv amount of gas is supplied, a,small area of flame isv provided, and whenlarger-amounts of gas arelsupplied, larger areas of flame are produced. As a; result, the area offlame jet discharge may be adjusted to accommodate vessels or otherartic-les of different sizeswhich are brought into heating relation'-ship, tothe burner. Another feature is that the velooityfof` the gas inthe burner remainsapproximately the same-regardless. of the; amount ofgas delivered tothe burner..

Various. other objects, advantages vand meritorious features oftheinvention will become more fully apparent. fromthe following:specification, appended claims and' accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig'. 1- is atopplane View of' the gas burner partly brokenA away toshow the interior construotion, and

Eig. 2y isl a vertical sectional view through the gashurner structurealongglines 2-2 of Fig. 1.

The invention; is adaptable-for use on domestic heating-stoves and foruse in industrialA gasfired appliances; It is hereinillustrated'inA itsapplication-to adomestic heating-stove.

, The gas burner structureof this-invention comprisesa-n enclosure orcasing indicatedy at' I0, which surrounds the discharge end ofa gas andair delivery-andmxingtube! 2v: The casingy prefierably; consists of acircular,` side wall in the form of; a sleeve. having an. closed`bottoniy Hll through which thetube lextends,y A circulai'perforatedburnerhead orplate iIeXtends across: the upper end; of` the sleeve. Thevtubey VIfi as indicated in the drawings,entersrthe bottom ot the casingon theaxisthereof, and its discharge end terminates shortzof. theburner.A platel |61 The tube iscon'- stri'cted' intermediate its endstor form. a Venturi passage lli, The bottomwa-ll I'may. be connectedftoAthe tube at approximately its :narrowest''part' Gas is delivered to thelower'bell-mouthedend ofthe. mixingV tuheby means off a. gas supply pipe2i) haring sagas discharge orifice 22 in the vupper end thereof throughwhich gas is discharged? into the tuloe immediately adjacent to.theventuri. Agos cook'or valve 24' is provided in the gas-deliveryy lineto vary the volume of asI delivered The bell-mouth1opening of the tubeis provided withl an aperturedi plate throughl wl'iiolrb pri.- maryair-s admitted formixturewith the gas in the tube. .A primaryairsl'iutterv 2li rotatably mounted on theV gasl line 21.! is capable oivarying the area: or the; openings in the plate 2B. in the usualv mannerthereby regulatestho amount offprimary air'admitt'ediritti,theA tube.v

In industrial applications, of. this. invention, various types ofiautomatic". valves may he' sub.- stituted iorv the manually operated gascock: 241 These Valvesmay be controlled electrically o'r-by fluidpressurev and yloe maderesponsive totem.-

perature; changes in the. gasI red appliance;

Thefburner head or plate; Hi, esashown-.in Fig'. 1, is perforatedthroughoutv itsextentby openingsr-Q. forming a plurality of dischargeorices. These` openings may be fornied-'oyrdrlling holes throughtheplate orini any other suitable way. From eachl orifice; 36': a vjet'of flame may issue.

In; accordance; with` this invention; the burner isselfhoperable-togvary the'area ofame jet propagation from the platelit-1 in proportion to the amount of gasdelivered to theituhe.'Ilhisisaccomplishedby thel noveli provision in therburner casingoffi'ow:controlling-barile or partition memu bers Which divide theinterior of the casingyinto a plural'ityyof subsidiary compartmentssuccessivelyv arranged.' to, receive ar portion of the gas mixtureonlyafter the capacities I.of thev comparte ments nearer toithe tube are:exceeded. Referring'to Fig; 2, a plurality ofcircularIbaiilesiorparltitions are arranged'in the casingabout the discharge endof the tube andconcentric-therewith. These-partitions aremounted in edgeabutting relationship to the burner headplate IG andextend'progressivelyv greater distances therefrom the more remotetheyare'lf'romthe tube;

The innermost partition B2i directly encircles the discharge end of thetube and is provided with a conically shaped portion 35, which connvergingly directs the fuel mixture to the ports 3f! enclosed within itsboundaries. The next innermost partition extends toward the lbottom wallill further than the partitions 32. The outermost partition 3S extendstoward the bottom wall further than the partition 35 but terminatesshort of the bottom or back wall iii. All the circular partitions may bewelded or otherwise integrally joined to the under surface of theperforated plate l5. tube and the side wall of the casing, subdivide theinterior of the casing into a plurality of annularly-shapedcompartments, each opening out toward the bottom Wall lli. Eachcompartment is thus provided with a series of discharge orifices 30.

In operation, the fuel mixture discharged from the tube nrst enters theinnermost compartment formed by the partition 32 and flows through theorifices 30 enclosed thereby. If more than sucient mixture of gas andair is supplied to the compartment to feed the orices confined thereby,the excess mixture will flow or spill around the lower edge of thepartition 32 into the next outermost compartment. The arrows in thedrawing. indicate the direction of flow. Similarly, if the capacity ofthis compartment is exceeded, the excess fuel mixture will flow aroundthe bottom edge of the partition 36 into the next outermost compartment.et cetera.

. It is obvious that the flame jets will issue only from those orifices3l) which communicate with the compartments having a fuel mixturetherein. Regulation of the gas cock 24 or other form of control valvewill vary the amount of gas delivered. If it is turned to a slightlyopened position, a small amount of gas and air will discharge from thetube, which mixture will be confined by the partition 32 and caused toissue in ignited condition from the small area of orices 30 in thecenter of the plate I6 bounded by the partition .32. If the gas cock isopened further, the capacity of the innermost compartment will beexceeded, and the excess fuel mixture enter the next outermostcompartment. Flame jets will therefore issue from the orifices 3l!communicating with this compartment, and as a result a larger area oforices will discharge flame jets from the burner head I6. W'hen thevalve 24 is fully turned on, all compartments will receive a fuelmixture, and flame jets will issue from the entire area of the burnerplate I6. It is thus apparent that the area of the burner plate fromwhich flame jets issue is directly proportional to the amount of gasdelivered and that the size of this area can be increased radially fromthe center of the burner plate outwardly to the limits thereofproportional to the extent the gas controlled valve is turned on.

There is indicated in dotted outline in Fig. 2 a receptacle or vessel4l) which may be supported in any suitable manner above the burner, forthe purpose of being heated thereby. The receptacle is shown with alateral dimension approximately that of the partition 36. By regulatingthe control valve 24, it is possible to supply only a sufficient amountof fuel mixture to light the burner orifices above the compartmentsformed by the two partitions 32 and 35 and thereby confine the llame jetarea to' approximately the size of the receptacle.

The partitions, in cooperation with theI Because the number of orifices3B through which the mixture escapes is reduced proportionately to theextent the valve is regulated toward a closed position, the velocity ofthe gas through the mixing tube remains approximately the same. Thevelocity will always be high enough to be ahead of the flame propagationand thereby prevent the blow-back ofthe flame into the interior of thecasing. As a result, the turn-down capacity of the burner is muchgreater than in the ordinary type of burner.

What -I claim isl. `A gas burner comprising, in combination, a tubeshaped to form a venturi intermediate vits ends having means .fordelivering gas and air into one end thereof for passage therethroughand'for discharge from the other end thereof, a circular sleeveenclosing the discharge end section of the tube and arrangedconcentrically thereabout, said sleeve having a back circular closuremember extending to the tube at approximately the venturi thereof and afront circular closure member extending across the discharge end of thetube in spaced relation thereto, said front closure member providedthroughout its extent with a multiplicity of drilledV openingstherethrough forming ports from which burning jets of fuel issue, aplurality of circular partitions of unequal diameters all having a crosssectional area less than the ported area of said front closure memberarranged concentrically in said casing in spaced apart relation anddividing the interior of the sleeve into a plurality of subsidiarycompartments, said partitions extending from abutting engagement withthe inside surface of said front member toward the back member butterminating in a free edge short of the latter, said partitions being ofprogressively longer lengths the more distant they are from the tubewhereby the flow of gas from the discharge end of the tube to the moreremote compartments is substantially cut off until the capacities of thecompartments nearer the tube have been illecl.'

2. A self-operable gas distributing device comprising, in combination, asubstantially closed casing having one wall thereof provided with aplurality of openings spaced over a substantial circular areaJ thereofand forming gas distributing ports, a gas delivery tube projecting intothe interior of the casing from the wall thereof opposite to said portedwall and having its discharge end terminating short of said ported wallopposite to the center of the ported area thereof, a sleevelike memberhaving a cross sectional area less than said ported area and mountedwithin the casing in concentric relation about the discharge end of saidtube in edge abutting engagement with said ported wall of the casing sothat a plurality of ports of said ported area are inside of the memberand a plurality of ports of the ported area are outside of the member,said sleeve-like member having an axial length less'than the distanceseparating said opposite Walls of the casing but greater than thedistance between said ported wall and the discharge end of the deliverytube and dividing the interior of the casing into a central compartmentinto which all of the gas discharged by the ytube enters and intoan'outer annular compartment outside of the member, said compartmentsopening into communication with said ports at one end of the sleeve-likemember and with one another around the opposite end of the sleeve-likemember and so disposed with respect to the discharge end of the tubethat 'eating with one another around the lower free edge ofy the walland with the orifices on its respective side of the wall whereby inoperation the outer annular compartment receives gas discharged fromsaid delivery means only after the capacity of the inner centralcompartment is exceeded.

8. A self-operable gas distributing device comprising, inl combination,a substantially closed casing including a top portion, a bottom portionand connecting sidewall portions, said top portion provided vwith aplurality of gas discharge orifices occupying a considerable areathereof and opening into the interior of the casing so that from eachorifice an upwardly directed jet of gas is adapted to'issue, a wall inthe interior of the casing havingthe upper edge thereof in edge abuttingrelation to the top portion of the device such that some ofthe dischargeorifices lie on one side of the wall and other discharge orifices lie onthe opposite side of the wall, said wall extending downwardly from theupper portion of the device and terminating in a free edge spaced fromthe bottom portion of the device to divide the interior of the casinginto two compartments on opposite sides of the wall, the space betweenthe lower freeedge of the wall and the vbottom portion forming apermanently opened communieating passage between the two compartmentsand vthe discharge orices on their respective sides of the wall, andmeans entering the casing and discharging gas into only one of saidcompartments above the level of'the free edge of the wall whereby inoperation the other compartment'receives gas by way of saidcommunicating passage for delivery to its respective oriices only afterthe volume of gas discharged into the first compartment exceeds'thecapacity thereof.

9. A vgas burner comprising, in combination, a circular casing, acircular plate extending across one end thereof provided throughout itsextent with perforations forming ports for the discharge of burning jetsof gaseous fuel, a plurality of concentrically arranged spaced apartcircular partitions in the casing all having a cross sectional area lessthan the ported area of said plate and each having one edge fixed to"the plate and the other edge terminating free, 'said partitions dividingthe casing into a plurality of circularly shaped compartments openinginto the interior of the casing on the side thereof opposite to saidplate and extending progressively greater distances from the plate themore remote' they are from the axis of the plate, and a gas and airdelivery and mixing tube entering 'the end of the casing opposite to theplate and on the axis thereof and having its discharge end terminatingshort of the center of the plate and within the innermost compartment ofthe casing.

10. A gas burner having a self-operable variable ame jet areacomprising, in combination, a hollow burner head having the top Wallprovided throughout a substantially large area with perforations formingorifices for the upward discharge of combustible gaseous jets, a gaseousfuel delivery tubev projecting upwardly into the burner .head andterminating short of the center of the perforated area of the top wall,a plurality of substantially circular partitions of unequal diametersarranged in the burner head concentrically about said tube and in edgeabutting engagement with the top wall so that each adjacent pair ofpartitions encloses a plurality of .perforations therein, saidpartitions extending downwardly from the top Wall in overlappingrelation to the discharge end of the tube and terminating in free edges,said partitions having axial dimensions of progressively increasinglengths the more remote they are from the tube and subdividing theinterior of the burner head into a plurality of circularly shapedcompartments each arranged to receive a portion of the gaseous fueldelivered by the tube only after the capacity of the compartment nearerthe tube has'been exceeded. I

11'. A self-operable gas distributing device'comprising, in combination,a casing having the top portion thereof provided with a plurality of gasdischarge openings therethrough. arranged in radially and circularlyspaced apart relationship and forming gas distributing ports, a gasdelivery tube projecting upwardly 'into the casing Afrom the bottomportion thereof and terminating short of the top portion thereofopposite to the center of the ported area thereof, a plurality ofsleeve-like members of unequal diameters'having their axial dimensionsvarying indirect pro'- portion to their respective cross-sectionalareas, said members all occupying a cross-sectional area less than theported area of 'the top portion ofm the casing and being mountedwithinthe casing in overlapping concentric relation about said tube and insubstantially edge abutting engagement with the inner surface of the topportion of the casing, said members subdividing the interior of thecasing into a pluralityA of concentric annularly shaped gas chamberseach communicating at its upper end with a number of'ports in the topportion of the casing and at yits lower end with the interiorl of thecasing, each chamber receiving a portion of the gas discharged by thetubeA only after the capacity of the chamber nearer to the tube has beenex- 'ceeded. A

12. A self-operable gas distributing devic comprising, in combination, asubstantially closed lcasing having one wall thereof provided with aplurality of openings arranged in radially and circularly spacedrelationship with one another and opening into communication with theinterior of the casing to form a generally circular 'area of gasdistributing ports, a gas delivery tube projecting into the interior ofthe casing from 'the wall thereof opposite to said ported wall andhaving its discharge end directed toward and 'terminating short of saidported wall substantially opposite to the center of the ported areathereof, a sleeve-like member having a cross-sectional area intermediatethe maximum and minimum 'radial dimensions of said ported area and `ofthe casing but greater than the distance separating the discharge end ofthe' delivery tube from the ported wall and dividing the interior of thecasing into a central compartment intowhich all of the gas discharged bythe tube enters and into an annular compartment outside of the member,said compartments opening into communication with said ports at one endof the sleeve-like member and with one another around the opposite endof the member and so disposed with respect to the discharge end of thetube that the outer annular compartment receives gas discharged by thetube only after the capacity of the inner central compartment isexceeded.

13. A gas burner comprising, in combination, a hollow body having spacedapart upper and lower wall portions and a connecting side wall portion,said upper wall portion being provided with concentrically arrangedinner and outer circular rows of gas discharge ports, a gas deliverytube projecting upwardly into the interior of the burner head from thebottom wall portion thereof and having its discharge end terminatingshort of the upper wall portion substantially opposite to the center ofsaid circular rows of gas discharge ports, a sleeve-like member having aradial dimension between that of the outer circular row of dischargeports and the inner circular row of discharge ports and mounted in theinterior of the body in substantially concentric relation to thecircular row of ports, said member having the upper end thereof sealedto the underside of the upper wall portion so that the inner circularrow of ports lie inside of the member and the outer circular row ofports lie outside of the member, said sleeve-like member further havingan axial length less than the distance between the upper and lower wallportions of the body but greater than the distance between the upperwall portion and the discharge end of the tube and dividing the interiorof the body into a central chamber into which all of the gas dischargedby the tube enters and an annular chamber outside of the member, saidchambers opening into communication with their respective circular rowsof ports at the upper ends thereof and with one another at their lowerends whereby in the operation of the gas burner the outer annularchamber receives gas for combustible purposes only after the capacity ofthe inner central chamber is exceeded.

14. A gas burner comprising, in combination, a substantially circularlyshaped hollow body having spaced apart top and bottom portions and aconnecting side wall portion, said top portion being provided withsubstantially concentrically arranged inner and outer circular rows ofgas discharge ports, a substantially circular wall in the interior ofthe body depending downwardly from the top portion between the inner andouter circular rows of gas discharge ports and disposed in substantiallyconcentric relation thereto, said wall terminating in a free edge shortof the bottom portion of the body, and dividing the interior of the bodyinto an inner central compartment and an outer annularly shapedcompartment, said compartments each communicating with the row of portswhich lie on its respective side of the wall and communicating with oneanother around the free edge of the wall, and a gas delivery tubecentrally located in the body and projecting upwardly from the bottomportion thereof into the central compartment and terminating short ofthe upper portion of the body, the gas 10 discharged by the tube rstentering the central compartment and flowing to the outer annularcompartment only after the capacity of the central compartment isexceeded.

15. A gas burner comprising, in combination, a substantially circularlyshaped hollow body having spaced apart top and bottom portions and aconnecting substantially circular outer side wall portion, said topportion being provided with substantially concentrically arranged innerand outer circular rows of gas discharge ports from each of which anupwardly directed jet of gaseous mixture is adapted to issue, a gasdelivery tube centrally located in the body and projecting upwardly fromthe bottom portion thereof and terminating short of the upper portion ofthe body, and a substantially circular wall in the body dependingdownwardly from the upper portion thereof between the inner and outercircular rows of ports and in substantially concentric relation thereto,said wall overlapping the upper discharge end of the tube in radialspaced relation thereto and terminating at its lower end in a free edgespaced from the bottom portion of the body.

16. A gas burner comprising, in combination, a substantially circularhollow body having the top portion thereof provided with an inner and anouter circular row of discharge ports arranged substantially concentricto one another, a substantially circular wall in the hollow interior ofthe body depending downwardly from the top portion thereof between theinner and the outer rows of ports and terminating in a free edge shortof the bottom portion of the body, said wall dividing the interior ofthe body into an inner central compartment and an outer annularly shapedcompartment, said compartments each communicating with the row of portswhich lie on its respective side of the wall and with one anotheraround' the free edge of the wall, and a gas delivery conduitcommunicating with an outside source of supply and entering the body,the discharge end of said conduit being centrally located in the bodyand projecting upwardly therewithin to discharge the gas in an upwarddirection into the central compartment whereby in the operation of theburner some of the gas will flow to the outer annular compartment forcombustion purposes only when the capacity of the central compartment isexceeded.

JAMES A. HARRISON.

REFEREN CES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 541,533 Haffcke June 25, 1895999,615 Williams Aug. 1, 1911 1,436,383 Coley et al. Nov. 21, 1922

